Automatic leather-hanger



(No Model.)

H. L. CLARK. AUTOMATIC LEATHER HANGER.

Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

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HARRY LEE CLARK, OF CANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC LEATHER-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,493, dated December8, 1891,

Application filed April 7, 1891. Serial No. 387,957. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that -I, HARRY LEE CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ganton, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Leather-Hangers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devicesfor suspending leather and hides in tanneries while undergoing thedrying and other processes; and it has for its object to provide anappliance automatic in operation by which the leather shall be heldsecurely While hung up and Y which shall at the same time obviate theinjury and mutilation thereof that results from the antiquated methodsnow in use. In order to accomplish this object, I have devised theconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my devicefrom the rear, the two parts thereof being separated in order toillustrate more clearly their relation to each other; and Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same, partly broken away, showing my device inoperation.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both views.

A is the base of the frame of the apparatus, preferably cast in theskeleton form shown and provided at its ends with the uprightprojections B. The thickened corner at C is bored out or left hollow forthe reception of the rounded shoulder or pintle D of the latch E, forwhich it afiords a bearing. The rear end of the pintle D of the latchEterminates in an annular disk F, as shown, and the rear end of thepintle-bearing O in the corner of the frame has.an annular recess tocorrespond, so that when the latch E is placed in its intendedp0sition,as shown in Fig. 2, with the pintle D resting in the bearing 0,and the whole fixture is screwed into its final position against a wall,beam, or other appropriate support, the latch will be prevented by saiddisk from moving out of its bearing longitudinally. I am bythisconstruction enabled to produce an appliance with but two parts, whichare so simple and positive in their construction and operation that theywill last in- 5 5 definitely without getting out of order. It isobvious, however, that the clamp may be pivoted on a screw at 0 withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, though I prefer theconstruction particularly described as being simpler and moreeconomical.

I prefer to construct my fixtures in gangs of six, for instance, as thecost of manufacture is thereby reduced and the work of putting updiminished. I also find it of advantage to give the fixturea plating ofcopper, if it is made of iron, in order to prevent discoloration of theleather.

The parts of my invention being constructed and arranged as described,its operation is as follows: Thelatch or' clamp E being inserted in itsproper place within the frame, with the pintle D resting in its bearing,the whole fixture is fastened to a wall, beam, or other appropriatesupport by the screws G, as shown in Fig. 2, and it is ready for use. Asmall end of a side of leather H is then pushed up between the free endof the latch E and the face of the neighboring upright Wall E of theframe A, whereupon the latch descends of its own weight and the leatherremains suspended, and when it is desired to take the same down it isonly necessary to push the end of the latch upward and thus free it fromits hold thereon. The ordinary practice among tanners is to cut a holein the end of the leather and hang it on a nail, and the result is thatthat portion of the leather is damaged and has to be cut off, involvingconsiderable waste; but with my automatic hanger c the operation ofhanging up and taking down is not onlysimplified, but the leather is notdisfigured or injured in any way.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim is 1. In a clamp adaptedfor attachment to a wall or other vertical support, the combination,with the frame having a flange or side plate and a pintle-bearing openat its rear end, of a gravitating latch having a pintle 10o adapted forinsertion endwise into the rear open end of the bearing in the frame andthe free end of the latch co-operating with the flange,substantially asdescribed.

2. In a clamp adapted for attachment to a wall or other vdrticalsupport, the combination, with the frame having a flange or side plateand a pintle-bearing open at its rear end, and said bearingbeing slottedlongitudinally, of a gravitating latch terminating at its pivot end in apintle, said pintle being adapted for endwise insertion into the bearingand the free end of the latch co-operating with the flange,substantially as described.

3. In a clamp adapted for attachment to a wall or other verticalsupport, the combination, with the frame having a flange or side plateand an open-ended pintle-bearin'g, said bearingbeing slottedlongitudinally and having' an enlarged annular recess atone end, of thepivoted gravitated latch having a pintle integral therewith, said pintlehaving anenlarged disk-shaped head at one end, so as to fit the recesswhen the pintle is inserted endwise into the bearing in the frame,substantially as described.

4. In a clamp adapted for attachment to a wall or othervertical support,the combination, with the frame having a flange or side plate and anopen-ended pintle-bearing provided at the end next the wall with anannular re-,

